28/06/2006

Man questioned over Sally Anne murder

Police investigating the murder of teenage model Sally Anne Bowman have arrested a man.

The 35-year-old was arrested in Surrey on Tuesday night and has been taken to a south London police station for questioning.

Sally Anne, 18, was attacked just yards from her home in South Croydon, south London, last September as she returned from a night out with friends.

She was bitten, sexually assaulted and stabbed to death. Neighbours heard the teenager screaming in the early hours of the morning and her body was found later that morning on the pavement next to a skip.

Earlier this year, police began a programme of DNA testing in Croydon, requesting 4,000 local men to come forward voluntarily to provide a DNA sample.

A fresh appeal for information was also recently made on BBC's 'Crimewatch' programme, based around a new e-fit of a suspect who had been linked to the murder from DNA from another indecent assault in July 2001. The e-fit had been created with the help of the victim of that attack.

Sally Anne had worked as a trainee hairdresser, but had wanted to become a model like Croydon-born supermodel Kate Moss. Her ambition had been to appear on the cover of fashion magazine 'Vogue'.

(KMcA/SP)

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06 October 2005
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Detectives investigating the murder of teenage model Sally Anne Bowman have said they are following up a number of ‘strong leads’ after an appeal on BBC One’s ‘Crimewatch’ show.
19 February 2008
Drugs To Blame In 'Necrophilia' Killing
Drink and drugs are being blamed in the case of a chef accused of murdering teenage model Sally Anne Bowman - by way of explanation for his claimed necrophilia. The accused, Mark Dixie, 37, said in court today that he had sex with 'her corpse' while high on drink and drugs but did not murder her.
05 October 2006
Sally Anne murder trial set
A date has been set for the trial of the man accused of murdering teenage model Sally Anne Bowman. Mark Dixie, 36, of no fixed address, appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link on Thursday. He was remanded in custody until December 15 for his next court appearance and the trial date was set for March 12.
05 October 2005
E-fit released in model murder
Police have released an e-fit image (pictured top) of the man wanted in connection with the murder of teenage model Sally Anne Bowman (pictured bottom). Sally Anne, 18, was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in the early hours of September 25, just yards from her home in Croydon, south London.
02 April 2008
Sally Anne Murderer To Appeal Sentence
Mark Dixie, the convicted murder of Sally Anne Bowman is to appeal against his 34-year sentence. Dixie's solicitor, Julie Cooper confirmed that he was to appeal his conviction. Dixie attacked the teenage model outside her Croydon home just her boyfriend left her home at about 4.30am in September 2005.